Palin Lauds Brat on 'Encouraging Victory' Over Cantor

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has congratulated political novice Dave Brat on his stunning defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the Virginia Republican primary on Tuesday — calling it "an encouraging victory" and saying it hints at what is to come this fall.

"You shocked the political world and reminded D.C. that power lies with 'We the People' and not any conventional party establishment," the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate said early Wednesday on her Facebook page. "Dave Brat was massively outspent . . . and laughed off by most, but he won the trust of voters the old-fashioned way: one by one."

Palin said Brat's victory over Cantor — by 55.5 percent to 44.5 percent of the votes cast — "showed the power of the local grass roots."

She described them as "the ones with boots on the ground who put up the campaign signs and go door to door to provide needed support for great candidates."

Palin also praised such conservative talk-show hosts as Laura Ingraham, Mark Levin, and Ann Coulter, saying that they had "powerful microphones" and that they "recognized Dave's strengths and had the guts to provide him a megaphone to reach concerned citizens."

She also encouraged similar efforts for other candidates that she is supporting in Senate races across the country: Mississippi state Sen. Chris McDaniel, Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon, and retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness in Louisiana.

All are squaring off against establishment candidates — Republican or Democrat, in either primaries or general elections — and have tea party backing.

"These candidates are also being massively outspent by establishment candidates and they need our help and energy," Palin said.